Tension reel



April 23, 1968 J. T. O'KEEFE 3,379,389

TENSION REEL.

Filed Dec. 15, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

INVENTOR.

ATTOR/VEK Aprii 23, 1968 J. T. O'KEEFE TENSION REEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15 1966 INVENTOR. JOfl/V 7: 07/55/ 5 ATTOR/VEV.

N M HN A ril 23, 1968. J. T. b'KEEFE 3,379,339

TENSION REEL Fild Dec. 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v 'ENTOR. & JOl/A/ 7: aka-"FE (Mi i;

- ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,379,339 TENSION REEL John Thomas OKeefe, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to United Engineering and Foundry Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 603,403 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Dec. 29, 1965, 55,127/ 65 7 Claims. (Cl. 24272.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tension reel comprising an arbor for carrying a plurality of segments and movable wedges common to adjacent sides of the segments for effecting expansion and collapse of the segments by an actuating shaft passing through the arbor. At least one segment having a gripper which includes an actuating member having a series of outer tapered surfaces and connected to the actuating shaft for longitudinally sliding movement relative to the arbor. A plurality of radially movable plungers each lo cated in a spaced bore formed in the segment along its length. The plungers have tapered lower surfaces complementary to the tapered surfaces of the actuating member and interlocked therewith. A movable gripper is carried by the segment and urged outward relative to the plungers by springs. The movable gripper and the plungers have interconnected parts to restrict outward movement of the gripper. A stationary gripper is formed in the segment and has a strip gripping surface cooperative with a surface formed on the movable gripper between which a strip is contacted.

The present invention relates to an improvement in reels and, more particularly, to a tension reel employed for winding up metallic strip under tension as it issues from a rolling mill or other strip processing apparatus.

Because of the very severe operating conditions, tension reels have been well recognized as a trouble-prone constituent of the rolling mill and have for many years presented a real challenge to the engineering profession. The reels are called upon to operate at extremely high rotational speeds, under high tension forces and subject to continuous pounding and shock forces, all of which cause repeated failure and demand continuous surveillance. Recent requirements of reels have compounded the problem of developing a satisfactory reel. In order to reduce to a minimum scrap losses caused during coiling, it has recently been made a requirement that the reel be constructed so as to assume, when expanded, a true circle; thereby, eliminating any depressions or gaps between the segments that would allow objectionable deformation of the strip during coiling. It is also now required in the interest of safety that the reel be constructed so as to assure that the segments will not be thrown away from the arbor of the reel under the influence of centrifugal force.

Still further, one of the constant problems in reel design is to assure that there is sufficient strength in the segments and arbor to resist the tremendous pressures that build up as a result of the tension imposed on the reel and the compression force generated by the strip as the strip builds up into a coil. This objective is made extremely difiicult to satisfy when the reel must be provided with one or more grippers, the inclusion of which, it will be appreciated, substantially detracts from the strength of the affected portions of the reel.

The present invention provides a reel designed to meet each of the aforesaid requirements and overcome each of the enumerated disadvantages.

In one aspect, the present invention provides for a 3,379,389 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 full circle reel including a construction designed to prevent expulsion of the segments under centrifugal force and wherein there is provided one or more grippers so constructed and arranged as to obtain the maximum strength of the various elements associated with the gripper, namely, the segments and arbor.

A further feature of the present invention is to provide a second gripper in the opposed segment of the reel, wherein the actuating shaft is designed to simultaneously actuate the two grippers as well as expand the segments.

These features of the present invention, as well as others, will be more clearly understood when the following description of one form of the invention is read in light of the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view through a reel incorporating the features of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a large sectional view of one of the grippers shown in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal segment view of the reel illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

With reference to the drawings and in referring first to FIGURES l and 2, there is illustrated a reel consisting of two pairs of opposed segments 10 and 11, each pair being identical in construction and adapted to form, when fully expanded, a part of a true-circular reeling surface. The interior of the reel is made up of an arbor 12 which takes the form substantially of a solid block in which there is provided a number of grooves formed therein to receive the segments 10 and 11 and their expanding and collapsing mechanism. With respect to the segments, the arbor 12 has formed in it four opposed T-shaped channels 13 which at their inner ends are enlarged and adapted to receive T sections 14 formed at the inner ends of the segments. In order to facilitate the radial movement of the segments the channel 13 is provided with bronze bearing members 15. It will be noted that the T sections 14 of the segments contact the arbor 12, thereby restricting the outward movement of the segments to prevent them from being unintentionally expelled from the arbor 12 on the reel being rotated at high speeds Without carrying at least a portion of a coil.

The opposite sides of the segments 10 and 11 have inner straight surfaces which are contacted by the opposed tapered surfaces of longitudinally extending Wedge members or bars 16 which are arranged at 45 angles relative to the center of arbor 12. At their inner portions, the wedge members 16 are provided with a series of wedge surfaces 17 which extend into channels 18 formed in the arbor 12. Also received in the channels 18 inward of the members 16 are longitudinally extending movable bars 19 which have complementary wedge surfaces 21 engageable with the surfaces 17. While FIGURE 3 shows only one member 16 connected to a spider element 22 located at the extreme outer end of the arbor 12, it will be appreciated that all four of the members are connected to the spider element. Springs are provided at the opposite ends of the reel, such as spring 20 shown in FIGURE 3 to urge the segment radially inwardly. In this construction on axial displacement of the spider the members 16 move longitudinally and, hence, cause vertical movement of the members 16 to either displace them radially outwardly or inwardly as the case may be depending on which direction the members are moved. This spider member is actuated axially of the arbor 12 by an actuating rod 23 received in an opening 24 formed in the center of the arbor, the rod being connected to the spider by nuts 23a threadably secured to the end of the rod. As the upper half of FIGURE 1 illustrates, the segments 10 and 11 with the outer faces of the members 16 form a true circular strip coiling surface.

With reference now to the gripper mechanism provided for the illustrated reel, reference will be made first to FIGURES 1 and 2. As indicated previously, each of the segments are provided with identical grippers, in view of which it is deemed only necessary to describe one of them. It should be pointed out, however, that the upper gripper members of FIGURE 1 indicate the closed position, whereas the open position is shown by the lower gripper, which also shows the collapsed position of the segments. It will be noted that the arbor 12 is provided in a region adjacent to the opening 24 with a channel 25 which runs longitudinally of the arbor. Into this channel there is received a longitudinal bar 26 which projects radially of the arbor 12 and on its upper surfaces is provided with a series of wedge surfaces 27. In the center of the segment 11, inward of its outer surface, there is provided a number of equally spaced bores 28. Into the bores for radial movement there are provided plunger members 29, the lower portions of which are formed with openings 31, the lower surfaces with tapered surfaces corresponding to the taper of the wedge surfaces 27. In providing the bores and maintaining the space between them sufficiently far apart adequate strength is preserved in the segments, which construction is an important as pect of the present invention with regard to designing the segments strong enough to withstand the forces involved.

As is shown in FIGURE 2 the surfaces 27 are formed on a T portion which portion is received in the opening 31 formed in the plunger members 29. This creates an interlocking construction which, as in the case of the segments, prevents the plunger members from being intentionally expelled from the reel assembly. The upper portion of the plunger members 29 are provided with circular recesses 32 into which there is received compression springs 33 extending in a generally radial direction. The spring 33 at the top engage circular washers 34 which separate the springs from a first of two gripper members.

The first gripper member indicated at 35 is received in a longitudinal channel 36 formed in the outer periphery of the segments 11. The inner side of the gripper member is provided with an opening 38 which receives a T- shaped member 39 formed on the plunger projection 29 which serve as positive stops to control the extent of outward movement of the gripper member 35 under the urging of the springs 33 in a manner to prevent the member from leaving the segment under centrifugal force. The gripper member 35, which as shown in FIG- URE 3 constitutes a longitudinally extending bar, at its outer surface is tapered so as to provide a strip gripping surface. The mating gripper is formed as part of the segment shown at 41, the inner surface of which adjacent to the gripper element 35 is also tapered so that a strip fed between the two gripper members is adapted to be gripped by the gripping surfaces under the pressure developed by the springs 33.

In referring now to FIGURE 3 you will notice that the bar 26 is connected to the spider member 22 and adapted to be actuated on axial movement of the actuating rod 23. When this occurs, to move the actuating rod 23 in the direction toward the left as one views FIGURE 3, the wedge surfaces 27 will force the plunger readily outward thereby compressing the springs 33 and cause the gripper member 35 to forcibly grip a strip which was previously inserted between it and the gripper member 41 when the gripper 35 was in its retracted position.

It will be appreciated that at the same time a strip is being gripped by one gripper member, the opposed gripper member will be actuated also so as to form a continuous circular reeling surface on the outer periphery of the reel. It will be appreciated also that the gripper members are operated in unison with the expanding and collapsing of the segments and that only one movement of the actuating rod 23 is necessary to effect an expansion of the reel and effect the gripping of the strip. It should 4 be pointed out also that with respect to the opposed gripper mechanism provided in the segments 10 the slot into which the end of the strip is inserted, formed by the gripper members 35 and 41, extend in an opposite direction thereby allowing the strip to be overwound and underwound, that is to say, depending on which gripper is employed the strip can be gripped from the top of the reel wherein the top surface of the strip will constitute the outer surface of the coil or in the other case gripped from the bottom of the reel in which the opposite surface of the strip will constitute the outer surface of the arms.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes,

I have explained the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In a reel for coiling strip material, comprising:

a rotatable central arbor,

a plurality of segments arranged on the outer periphery of said arbor adapted to move radially relative to said arbor, the construction being such that when radially expanded a space exists between the opposed adjacent ends of each segment,

said arbor and said segments having an interfitting relationship in a region approximately midway between the opposite ends of the segments, the construction being such that said segments are radially slidable relative to said arbor, but restricted by physical contact with the arbor from moving beyond a predetermined radial distance,

first channels formed in said arbor in a location of the adjacent ends of the segments and in the areas of said spaces formed thereby,

first bars adapted to extend into said spaces and having opposed tapered surfaces engageable with the ends of the adjacent segments when the reel is expanded,

said first bars with the segments, forming a completely circular reeling surface,

each of said first bars having a series of wedge surfaces formed on its inner side and received in one of said first channels,

a second bar received in each of said arbor channels having a series of wedge surfaces engageable with the wedge surfaces of one of the said first bars and slidable axially of said arbor to effect a radial displacement of the segments,

means associated with said segments for maintaining the wedge surfaces in contact with each other,

separate gripper mechanisms received in at least two opposed segments,

said gripper mechanism being arranged midway between two of the ends of the associated segments and each comprising a first gripper member movable radially in its associated segment,

a second gripper member carried by each of said two segments constructed to cooperate with said first gripper member to grip a strip inserted between them,

means connected to and for moving said first gripper members relative to said second gripper members comprising tn actuating rod passing through the arbor and movable relative thereto,

said rod also connected to said first bars whereby said segments and said first gripper members are moved radially in unison.

2. In a reel according to claim 1, wherein said interfitting relationship comprising:

T-shaped channels formed in said arbor, and

T-shaped members formed on said segments.

3. In a reel according to claim 2, wherein said gripper mechanisms comprise:

a second channel for each cooperative pair of gripper members formed in said arbor midway between two of said first channels,

gripper bars radially slidable in said second channels,

said gripper bars having a series of wedges on their one side,

the segment receiving said gripper mechanism having a plurality of bores spaced axially of their length on one side of said gripper bars,

plungers carried by said gripper bars and having a series of wedge surfaces adapted to engage with the wedge surfaces of said gripper bar,

springs associated with each plunger compressible by said plungers on the outward radial movement of the latter and adapted to urge the first gripper member toward the second gripper member,

third channels formed at the outer periphery of the gripper segments,

said first grippers received in said third channels having inclined gripping surfaces,

said second gripper members carried by said gripper segments having inclined surfaces complementary to said inclined gripping surfaces of said first grippers between which surfaces a strip to be gripped is inserted.

4. In a reel according to claim ll, wherein the cooperative gripping surfaces of one gripping m chanism extend from the outer periphery of reel in a. diverging clockwise direction and the other cooperative gripping surfaces in a diverging counter-clockwise direction.

5. In a reel according to claim 4,

said second channels having at their one end enlarged T-shaped openings,

said gripper bars having T-shaped portions received in t the T-shaped openings of said second channels which restrict the radial movement of said bars by contacting said arbor,

said plungers having T-shaped openings at their lower portions which receive complementary T shaped portions formed on said gripper bars, thereby interconnecting said elements so that they move radially as a unit and wherein the plungers are prevented from being expelled from the reel,

said first grippers at their lower portions having T- shaped openings, and

T-shaped projections on said plungers received in said first gripper openings, the construction being such that the grippers are allowed to slide radially outward in the third channels a predetermined amount, after which they are held against outward movement by said projections of said plungers.

6. A gripper mechanism for a reel, including an arbor and a number of segments,

said gripper mechanism arranged in at least one of said segments substantially midway between its ends,

an arbor channel formed in said arbor radially inward of said gripper mechanism, a gripper bar radially slidable in said arbor channel, said gripper bar having a series of wedges on one of 5 its sides,

said gripper segment having a plurality ot bores spaced axially of its length to one side of said gripper bar,

plungers received in said bores having wedge surfaces on their one side adapted to engage with the wedge surfaces of said gripper bar,

springs associated with each plunger compressible by said plunger on the outward radial movement of the latter,

an axially extending channel formed at the outer periphery of the gripper segment,

a first gripper received in said segment channel,

said first gripper having an inclined gripper surface,

a second gripper carried by said gripper segment having a complementary inclined surface with said first gripper between which surfaces a strip to be gripped is inserted,

an actuating rod passing axially through the arbor adapted to move axially relative thereto, and

means for connecting said gripper bar to said actuating rod whereby said first gripper is caused to move toward said second gripper.

7. A gripper mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said arbor channel has at its lower end an enlarged T- shaped opening,

said gripper bar having a T-shaped lower portion received in the T-shaped opening of said arbor channel which restricts its radial movement by contacting said arbor,

said plungers having a T-shaped opening at their lower sides which receive a complementary T-shaped portion formed on said gripper bar thereby interconnecting the two elements so that they move radially as a unit and wherein the plungers are prevented from being expelled from the reel,

said first gripper at its lower portion having a T-shaped opening, and

a T-shapetl projection on said plungers received in said first gripper opening, the construction being such that the first gripper is allowed to slide radially outwardly in the segment channel a predetermined amount, after which it is held against outward movement by said projections of said plungers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1956 Russell 24272..1

1/1960 Wingard 24272.1 1/1967 Sturdy et a1 24272.1 

